Frank L. Smith

Frank L. Smith

Tribune file photo

Frank L. Smith returns to his hometown of Dwight, Ill. on Jan. 24, 1927, after being refused a seat in the U.S. Senate. Smith, a former congressman and chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission, was appointed to the seat in December 1926 by then-Illinois Gov. Len Small, after the death of incumbent Sen. William McKinley. But Smith had been accused by Senate officials of accepting $125,000 in campaign money from Samuel Insull, the powerful owner several public utilities, while Smith was the chair of the ICC. Accepting such a contribution while acting as the ICC chair was a violation of Illinois law. Although he was never officially charged with a crime, the U.S. Senate voted 61-23 that Smith was not entitled to his Senate seat.

Frank L. Smith returns to his hometown of Dwight, Ill. on Jan. 24, 1927, after being refused a seat in the U.S. Senate. Smith, a former congressman and chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission, was appointed to the seat in December 1926 by then-Illinois Gov. Len Small, after the death of incumbent Sen. William McKinley. But Smith had been accused by Senate officials of accepting $125,000 in campaign money from Samuel Insull, the powerful owner several public utilities, while Smith was the chair of the ICC. Accepting such a contribution while acting as the ICC chair was a violation of Illinois law. Although he was never officially charged with a crime, the U.S. Senate voted 61-23 that Smith was not entitled to his Senate seat. (Tribune file photo)

Frank L. Smith returns to his hometown of Dwight, Ill. on Jan. 24, 1927, after being refused a seat in the U.S. Senate. Smith, a former congressman and chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission, was appointed to the seat in December 1926 by then-Illinois Gov. Len Small, after the death of incumbent Sen. William McKinley. But Smith had been accused by Senate officials of accepting $125,000 in campaign money from Samuel Insull, the powerful owner several public utilities, while Smith was the chair of the ICC. Accepting such a contribution while acting as the ICC chair was a violation of Illinois law. Although he was never officially charged with a crime, the U.S. Senate voted 61-23 that Smith was not entitled to his Senate seat.